Jim Bridger Mine

The Jim Bridger Mine is a coal mine in Rock Springs, Wyoming, that produces approximately 6 million tons of coal per year for the Jim Bridger Steam Plant. The mine is owned by MidAmerican Energy.

The Jim Bridger mine is in the process of converting from surface operation to primarily underground operation, while currently continuing production at its surface operations. The mine expanded underground in 2004, the Bridger Underground Coal Mine, and to longwall in 2007. Highwall mined coal supplied 25% of the 2005 deliveries to the Jim Bridger Steam Plant.

The coal reserves are leased and mined by Bridger Coal Company, a joint venture between Pacific Minerals, Inc. (PMI) and Idaho Power Company. PMI, a subsidiary of PacifiCorp, has a two-thirds interest in the joint venture. PacifiCorp was bought by MidAmerican Energy in March 2006, and since 2008 MidAmerican Energy has operated as a subsidiary of Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway, Inc. The Jim Bridger Plant is also owned by Midamerican/Berkshire.

It was announced in August 2010 that the Federal government approved the expansion of the Bridger Mine by 2,000 acres.

Mine Data

 * MSHA ID:	4800677
 * Owner: Bridger Coal Company
 * Parent company: MidAmerican Energy/Berkshire Hathaway
 * Union:	WEW
 * Location: Rock Springs, Wyoming
 * GPS coordinates:
 * Production: 6,000,000 short tons
 * Type of coal: Lignite
 * Mine type: Surface/Underground
 * Equipment: Dragline/Longwall
 * Number of employees: 400
 * Mine Status:	Active

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